Apr. 28, Interview - As many detractors of Reverend Wright have dominated the discussion, the influential pastor has much support. One of those supporters is Reverend Graylan Hagler, Pastor of Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ in Washington DC, whose church is the same denomination as Reverend Wright.

He spoke with Election Unspun's Leigh Ann Caldwell about the opportunity with in the controversy.

"Well I think its a tremendous speech. What Rev. Wright is outlining is particularly some of the differences that exist in the culture that is very much a vital part of the culture, but has been in a sense either stereotyped or not viewed at all. And so, one of the things that has happened in this particular historic moment, is that the prophetic and progressive Evangelical movement has just been outed, so to speak, and its in plain view.

And that people who did not know it exists are seeing it for the first time. Because one of the things that has happened is that we've had a media that has not done the analysis, a media that has not done the research, a media that looks for easy sound bites and rather than in depth analysis of what is really taking place in the culture, and in the context of the country, in particularly the church."

"Its not a race issue, it is a cultural issue, it's a class issue - which is very different than race. One of the things, is that a liberation theology tends to be inclusive. What we have witnessed in terms of a right wing theology, that has tended to be exclusive. That it keeps people out - that it condemns people.

The theology that we are taking, the Progressive Evangelical Theology, is one that tends to embrace, bring people in, reconcile people to each other to one another. Also speak to people about their own empowerment. And really influencing the culture in a constructive way. It's a radical difference, its two world views, that is called for in this theological dynamic."

"It's a great opportunity, its a great opportunity. There is a scripture in Genesis that is dealing with Joseph, and after Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers, and at the other end, he is the keeper of the store house and his brothers have to come to him to be fed.

And they're afraid of the anger that Joseph may have, and Joseph says, 'what you intended for evil, God intended for good'. And so, what other folks have intended for evil in this situation, God has obviously intended for good."

That was Leigh Ann Caldwell, she spoke with Reverend Graylan Hagler of Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ in Washington DC.